A $5M American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded redevelopment of the 2.6-acre site in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, which serves thousands of bus and light rail passengers near Civic Space Park and Arizona State University’s downtown campus. This award winning project is modeled on principles of the Sustainable Site Initiative, and is LEED EBOM. To achieve LEED EBOM rating, the design incorporates drought tolerant planting, reuses materials salvaged from the site, and increased infiltration through permeable paving by capturing the first flush of rainfall. Other sustainable features include structural soil for healthy tree growth, design for heat mitigation with vegetation and vertical elements, reclaimed concrete benches, LED lighting, adaptive reuse of City bus shelters, and incorporation of solar panels.

User amenities include bike lockers, bicycle gardens, both permanent and moveable site furnishings designed to complement each other’s forms, paver lights to assist in wayfinding, and a variety of shade experiences to provide user comfort especially in the hot southwest climate. The paving materials alternate between plank pavers and permeable concrete to create a pattern and rhythm between “bands of motion” and “bands of rest” in order to provide interest and comfort while moving through an otherwise large open space. Two separate plazas provide shaded seating and gathering opportunities for not only commuters, but also residents and downtown visitors resulting in one of the few truly public plazas in Downtown Phoenix today.